You can see that it is six sets (parts) divided by full colons and can contain both alphabets and characters. Here is an example of a MAC address for your understanding:
Also, unlike the four characters used in IP address per set, the MAC address employs only two characters per set. It is a set of six characters separated by six full colons. But unlike only four numeric characters separated by full colons to make it look like a four digit set x 4 parts, the MAC address is a combination of alphanumeric characters. Structure of MAC AddressĪ MAC address is separated by full colons, as is the IP address (IPv4 addresses). This Address Resolution Protocol first obtains the IP address of the computer to be contacted and then resolves it into the MAC address before embedding it into the header of the data packets so that they are delivered exactly to the computer intended and not to any other computer in the network. These MAC addresses are built into the cards and are resolved using a method called Address Resolution Protocol. MAC addresses are assigned by the manufacturers of network interface cards (NIC). Unlike IP addresses, that are provided by your ISP or network admins, and may be static or dynamic. MAC addresses do not appear when you click on Open Network Adaptors in the Windows System Tray. The last part of the data packet will contain a bit to ascertain if the data bit was correctly delivered or was it corrupted or changed during the transmission. Each data packet on the network has a header containing the MAC address of the computer you wish to connect to and then the data. While the IP address is the software part of the Network Interface card (Network card or NIC), the MAC address is the hardware address, without which data packets will just keep on roaming on the network, as they do not have any address where to deliver the data. Every NIC has a MAC address – just like a postal address so that the data packets traveling on your network can reach the correct NIC and from there, your computer. More important than IP (Internet Protocol) address is the MAC (Media Access Control) address – an address assigned to the network interface card, so that it is identified on the network.Ī Network card is a term used in short for a Network interface card. While most of us believe that it is the IP address that is significant in contacting another computer on the network, it is not the only factor. Whether you are using a wired network or a wireless one, you need a network card to connect to other computers and to allow other computers to your computer. We will also touch upon MAC Address filtering, lookup and spoofing. In this post, we will see what is MAC Address and how do you change a MAC Address in Windows 10/8.1. A MAC Address or Media Access Control Address is a unique identifier assigned to every Network Interface Card.
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